Heated Surfaces And Hot WaterHelping Managers to Manage

Department of Education

SAFETY TEMPERATURES FOR AIR, WATER AND HEATED SURFACES

Hot Water

Schools normally have a need for hot water at two temperatures, a high temperature supply for kitchens / serveries and cleaners sinks and low temperature supply for hand washing basins and children’s use. Usually these supplies are normally provided by a hot water boiler supplying a calorifier or by independent direct gas fired water heaters.

Thermostats should be set no lower than 60oC. All hot water supplies that pupils have access to should have its temperature reduced to a maximum of 43oC by means of a thermostatic mixing valve (T.M.V) at the point of use.

The HSE’s Control of Legionella Code of Practice requires that water is stored at a temperature of at least 60ºC and distributed at 50ºC minimum, to prevent risks from Legionella. (See Legionella Policy on building Custodians Site) For further advice on Legionella, contact the Legionella Officer on 01274 434467.

Special care must be taken to prevent scalding injuries to young children and especially persons with mental or physical handicap where either their sensing of dangerous conditions may be inhibited or undeveloped or they may have some other incapacity or inability to avoid such danger.

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 require that baths and showers shall provide an adequate supply of warm water and a temperature not exceeding 43.5°C but in practice a temperature of 43°C + or - 1° is acceptable.

Where necessary an alcohol type thermometer should be used to determine the temperature of water in baths, Jacuzzis etc.

On no account should hot water be added to baths / Jacuzzis by means of kettles, pans etc whilst the bath is occupied.

Heated Surfaces

Research has indicated that a temperature of 45°C would cause a minor partial thickness burn to the skin after prolonged contact of between one and two hours duration.

This can be a problem in primary schools where pupils have been known to trap their arms/elbows between low level cast iron pipes or between the pipes and the dado boarding.

Where possible low-level pipe work, should be shielded by suitable arrangement of the room furniture, and where this is not possible or where runs of pipe work are left exposed considerations should be given to providing suitable guards.

In primary schools all new installations and modifications to heating systems shall include for low surface temperature radiators (LST) to be installed where the maximum surface temperature is limited to 430 given a water flow temperature of 800.

Schools wishing to modify or alter heating systems should liaise with Asset Management Senior Mechanical and Ventilation Surveyor on 01274 431880 before having any work carried out.

Air Temperature problems in school

In the event of air temperature problems the following procedure should be adopted:-

a)Temperatures should be taken in the locations within the school, which are causing concern after classes begin. Each school should provide an adequate number of suitable accurate thermometers.

b)The following temperatures, as defined in the Education (Schools Premises) Regulations 1999 should have been achieved by the start of directed time under normal winter weather conditions ie -1°C. Consideration must be given to the disabled, particularly the non-ambulant.

Areas / Temperature
Areas where there is a lower than normal level of physical activity because of sickness or physical disability including sick rooms and isolation rooms but not other sleeping accommodation / 210C
Areas where there is the normal level of physical activity associated with teaching, private study or examinations / 180C
Areas where there is a higher than normal level of physical activity (for example arising out of physical education) and washrooms, sleeping accommodation and circulation spaces. / 150C

c) If temperatures are not reaching the above levels by the required time, then the Headteacher should attempt to find a temporary solution within the school by adjusting the pattern of use of accommodation.

d) If a solution cannot be found at school level then the Headteacher should contact the Asset Management to discuss the problem to establish what action can be taken.

e)The Education Director must be consulted (01274 385525) before any school is closed.

f)Advice on heating and ventilation issues can always be obtained from Asset Management Services 01274 431880.

g)The Headteacher should pass information to the Safety Representatives who should be kept informed of the steps being taken at each stage, particularly in cases where a major fault has been found and a longer term solution is being sought. The Headteacher, in turn, will inform the staff affected by the heating failure of the measures being taken to resolve the problem.

h)Head teachers are empowered to control heating within their schools in response to changing weather conditions thereby preventing any waste of energy by optimum use.

Also see the Councils Comfort Strategy on this Website.

Occupational Safety UnitPage 1 of 3Issued January 2004